system
incorporates pharmacokinetic (absorption, distribution, metabolism) disposition of the
test substance when administered by a route similar to its intended use. It also takes into
consideration, other physiological events in an organism that influence toxicity. While cellbased
assays measure is predictive of potential toxicity, the whole animal experiment measures
the critical toxicity of a test substance, which are the signs of toxicity that manifest as a
result of a gradual increase in the dose of the test substance.
Certain drawbacks to animal testing however do exist; the costs of the animals to be used
can be prohibitive and subtle differences within species can affect the type of effects that are
observed and they are usually more tedious to arrange, in terms of duration of experiments.